Up until 5pm yesterday, the workload was overwhelming.  We ate almost all our meals in the windowless office, and pounded away at our oh-so-cheesy Dell laptops.

But what I really want to talk about is the concept of a Team Contract.  At the beginning of the project, we get together and discuss the things we want to get out of the project, rules, expectations, anything and everything.  It’s important because each project comprises different people, many times working together for the first time.  So for example, if you have a strong aversion to eating delivered Pizza, it’s the perfect forum to voice your must-have (or have-nots).  And for the most part, depending on the project leader, this contract is upheld.

In this particular project, we didn’t have anything serious.  Being my first project, I only had one request, which is to make it back to the hotel on Wednesday nights early enough for me to spend an hour at the gym, something to keep maintain my energy and sanity.  The other things we wanted to accomplish was a specific work schedule: team dinners on Monday’s outside of the office, work long and hard on Tuesdays and accomplish a lot, get back to the hotel early (as in before 10pm) on Wednesdays so I can work out and others can pack their bags (since we leave for NY the next day).

This week was weird though.  One of my colleagues had a trip and didn’t come back to Orlando until late Tuesday night.  My project leader had to leave at Thursday noon instead of the usual 6pm.  And we have the big bad meeting coming up on Monday.  So due to these circumstances, our contract went out the door.  Honestly I don’t have any complaints about that.  And since we did such a great job finishing our work yesterday, it’s been relaxing today.

I’m going to think of more requests for the next team contract.  Some ideas so far:

1.    Stock the team room with bottled water so I don’t have to drink from the toilette.
2.    Have dinner at the restaurant of my choice at least once every two weeks.
3.    Heaven forbid, have the option of flying to the client site on Sunday instead of Monday morning.
4.    Have private phone breaks every other night (just wanted to get this out so once the expectations are set, I don’t look like I’m goofing off and disappearing for 30 minutes.)
5.    My most productive hours are after 3pm – I’m definitely more vampire than early bird.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome.